inDANCE’s double-bill premiere “16 shades of RED”—chapters 1 and 2, at the Mondavi Center (UC Davis, California) on May 12 and 13, 2018.
16 shades of RED features courtesan- inspired-dance from South India, showcasing original repertoire rarely experienced on contemporary world stages. Dancing in a series of solos and duets, Srividya Natarajan and I had the time of our lives accompanied by musicians Davesh Soneji, Vidya Sankaranarayanan, Vaaraki Wijayaraj, Kajan Pararasasegaram and Mithuran Manogaran, with lighting design by Jack Carr, costume & set design by Rex, stage managed by Tara Mohan and produced by Shana Hillman.
“These are extraordinary artists and their two performances at the Mondavi Center were transcendent. But even beyond their finesse, their artistry, the elegance and verve of their dancing is a deep-seated ethic, a commitment to challenge notions of caste, class and gender with and through dance. And to never let us forget the gifts that hereditary communities have given them. It is a testament to their artistry and to the human beings they are that some of the most marginalized, disenfranchised and stigmatized women in the world trusted them with their most precious treasures, and in turn they shared them with us with such sensitivity and care. It was a privilege to watch them perform these past two days: moved, humbled, honoured. I hope we can have you all back in Davis soon.” -Dr. Archana Venkatesan, UC Davis